Thermal image transfer recording method and thermal image transfer recording medium

Abstract

A thermal image transfer recording method includes the steps of holding a thermal image transfer recording medium including a support material and a thermal image transfer layer provided on the support material, and an image recording material between a line edge thermal head and a platen roller, with a contact pressure being applied therebetween; transferring the thermal image transfer recording layer imagewise from the thermal image transfer recording medium to the image recording material with imagewise application of heat by use of the line edge thermal head; and taking up the-thermal image transfer recording medium after the image transfer, with the take-up tension applied to the thermal image transfer recording medium being set larger than both the shearing strength and peeling strength at 70° C. of the thermal image transfer layer. A thermal image transfer recording medium including a thermal image transfer layer with a shearing strength of 200 g/cm or more at 25° C. provided on a support material is provided for use in this thermal image transfer recording method.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A thermal image transfer recording medium comprising a support material and a thermal image transfer layer formed thereon, said thermal image transfer layer having a shearing strength of 200 g/cm or more at 25° C. 
     
     
       2. The thermal image transfer recording medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein said thermal image transfer layer has a shearing strength of 250 g/cm or more at 25° C. 
     
     
       3. The thermal image transfer recording medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein said thermal image transfer layer has a peeling strength of less than 40 g/cm at 70° C. 
     
     
       4. The thermal image transfer recording medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein said thermal image transfer layer has a close contact adhesion of 0.5 g/cm or less at 25° C. with an image recording material having a smoothness of 2400±150 sec. 
     
     
       5. The thermal image transfer recording medium as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a release layer between said thermal image transfer layer and said support material. 
     
     
       6. The thermal image transfer recording medium as claimed in claim 5, further comprising an adhesive layer between said release layer and said support material. 
     
     
       7. The thermal image transfer recording medium as claimed in claim 6, wherein said adhesive layer comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of polyurethane resin, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer resin, and unvulcanized rubber. 
     
     
       8. The thermal image transfer recording medium as claimed in claim 6, wherein said adhesive layer comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of carbon black, an organic filler and an inorganic filler.